Substantially spherical yard waste container/incinerator

ABSTRACT

A yard waste incinerator device is provided. The device includes an at least partially spherical outer member which is comprised of a truncated sphere. The outer member is usually comprised of a multiplicity of frame members that are spaced apart, but intersect with one another so they look much like latitudinal and longitudinal lines of a globe. Thus, they define a fairly open structure. A partially spherical cover is provided that will moveably engage the frame of the spherical outer member. The cover may be removed to allow debris and the like to be placed in the interior of the at least partially spherical outer member. By placing the cover back in a closed position, the yard ball can be rolled from one place to another rather easily. This is the result of the cover being generally spherically shaped, similar to the outer member so that, when the cover is in place, the yard ball has a spherical or ball shape. When the cover is moved, yard debris may be placed into the device.

This patent application claims benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/389,945, filed Oct. 5, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Containers, including containers capable of acting as incinerators for the burning of waste.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most homes have a yard that requires periodic raking, especially leaves in the fall. What is needed is a practical, effective method for the collection, removal and/or incineration of leaves, twigs, and the like from the ground and especially from a lawn area.

Typically, in rural, country or farm settings, trash or other waste is burned in 55 gallon barrels. However, this usually creates heavy wet ash that is difficult to remove from the barrel. Other ways of burning small contained fires is in a store-bought fire pit or a chiminea.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide a simple device for he collection, removal, and/or incineration of waste, such as yard waste.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A yard waste incinerator device, comprising an at least partly spherical outer member defining an interior space, the outer member at least partially comprising an open frame. The open frame includes a multiplicity of rigid, curved spaced apart members, the members fixedly engaging one another. The outer member has walls defining a lid opening. An at least partially spherical cover is disposed relative to the cover opening of the outer, generally spherical member so as to move between a covered and uncovered position. The uncovered position allows access to the interior space. The cover is adapted to, in the covered position, generally conform to the shape of the outer member. The outer member may be a hemisphere and the cover may have a hemispherical outer surface. The cover may be pivotally engaged to the outer member. The cover typically has a radius of curvature about equal to the radius of curvature of the outer member and the engagement to the covered position defines a substantially spherical incinerator device. Means to selectively fix the position of cover with respect to the outer member are provided. The means to selectively fix the position of cover with respect to the outer member may include a pin for engaging the frame and the cover. The cover may be substantially solid; and include a removable lid, or it may be substantially open, like the frame.

A method of incinerating yard waste is provided. The method comprises providing a yard waste incinerator device comprising an at least partly spherical outer member defining an interior space, the outer member at least partially comprising an open frame, the open frame comprising a multiplicity of rigid, curved spaced apart members, the members engaging one another, the generally spherical outer member also including a multiplicity of wire members for engaging the frame, the outer member having walls defining a cover opening; and an at least partially spherical cover disposed relative to the cover opening of the outer, generally spherical member so as to move between a covered and uncovered position. The uncovered position allowing access to the interior space, the cover adapted to, in the covered position, generally conform to the outer member; accumulating yard waste; placing yard waste into the incinerator device; burning the incinerator device to a desired location; and burning the contents of the incinerator device.

A yard waste incinerator device is provided. The device includes an at least partially spherical outer member which is comprised of a truncated sphere. The outer member is usually comprised of a multiplicity of frame members that are spaced apart, but intersect with one another so they look much like latitudinal and longitudinal lines of a globe. Thus, they define a fairly open structure. A partially spherical cover is provided that will moveably engage the frame of the spherical outer member. The cover may be removed to allow debris and the like to be placed in the interior of the at least partially spherical outer member. By placing the cover back in a closed position, the yard ball can be rolled from one place to another rather easily. This is the result of the cover being generally spherically shaped, similar to the outer member so that, when the cover is in place, the yard ball has a spherical or ball shape. When the cover is moved, yard debris may be placed into the device.

Applicant provides a spherical, at least partially open lidded, yard waste ball. This replaces the prior art drum, chiminea, open or closed pit, wheelbarrow or other large bags required for relocation and/or permanent disposal of yard waste via burning of leaves, small twigs, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of Applicant's yard waste ball in an upright position.

FIG. 1A is a detail view of a portion of FIG. 1 showing the manner in which the mesh engages the frame through the use of tie wires or the like.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of Applicant's yard waste ball with the lid removed and placed adjacent the lower edge of the frame to chock the ball to prevent it from rolling.

FIG. 2A is a side perspective view of the frame of Applicant's yard waste ball with the cover, lid, and mesh removed therefrom.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view with the lid removed showing how it is used to chock the yard waste ball in position.

FIG. 3A is a view of the lid removed from the yard waste ball illustrating the chock portion or flat portion thereon.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate preferred embodiment of Applicant's device in a stow position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 with the cover in an uncovered position.

FIG. 5A illustrates an open position between the frame and the cover, wherein debris or the like may be received within an interior of the frame.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the embodiment of FIG. 4 with the cover in a covered position showing the pin locking the cover to the frame.

FIG. 7 is a top elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 with the cover in a covered position locked to the frame and illustrating the device on stands with a pan beneath it.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view partial cutaway illustrating the manner in which the stand engages the outer member and the manner in which the outer member engages the cover.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the manner in which a pin is dimensioned for receipt within holes between the outer member and with the cover so as to releasably lock in position the outer member with respect to the cover.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the system of the embodiment set forth in FIG. 4 showing the cover in a fully covered or closed position, which will permit burning of debris in the device.

FIG. 10A is a side elevational view of the manner in which stands and/or a pan may engage the partially spherical outer member so as to support the outer member above a support surface.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a pan for use as part of Applicant's burn ball.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the use of an embodiment of Applicant's present invention, including a pan and stands, as well as a spit for receipt of food thereon, wherein the spit is rotatable with respect to the frame and wherein debris, charcoal material or other burnable material, may be received on the surface of a cover 14.

FIG. 13 is a perspective exploded partial view of the manner of engagement of the spit with the frame, cover, and stands of Applicant's system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Applicant provides for a yard waste ball 10 having a generally spherical shape. Yard waste ball 10 is comprised of a frame 12. Frame 12 is at least partially spherical and may be made from a multiplicity of formed metal rod bands 20/21 welded or otherwise fixedly joined at their intersections and where the ends thereof meet. The frame 12 is typically shaped as a truncated sphere or greater than a hemisphere (see FIG. 2A) or a hemisphere (see FIG. 5).

A replaceable wire mesh fabric 18 may be stretched over the bands 20/21 of frame 12 and tied thereto by tie wires 24, such as 9 to 11 gauge steel or aluminum tie wires 18. Wire mesh fabric may be made of any suitable material that is non-permanent, sturdy enough and flexible so as to engage the spherical frame and maintain its generally hollow structure under intended use. The openings of mesh fabric 18 should be tight enough to hold small leaves inside while also allowing airflow therethrough. The mesh fabric may be chain link fence mesh fabric, such as 1″ to 2″ mesh fabric, galvanized metal 9 to 11½ gauge available from Hoover Fence Co., www.hooverfence.com.

The use of an exterior of mesh fabric over the frame 12 is optional (see the second embodiment of FIG. 4, which has no mesh fabric). Its use allows for easy, non-slip moving or rolling of a ball manually, such as with the human hand or a rod. Leaves, small twigs, waste, and the like, may be placed for later burning inside the inner volume of the sphere when a lid 16 or cover 14/14 a is at least partly removed. The waste may be moved to a disposal area by rolling the spherical waste ball (cover closed) to the desired dump area, removing lid 16 from cover 14, and rolling the sphere back and forth until the contents have fallen out. Clips 26 may be used to removably engage lid 16 to cover 14 or cover 14 to frame 12, at a rim member 22 of frame 12.

In a first embodiment (FIGS. 1-3 a), cover 14 may removably engage rim member 22 of frame 12. Rim member 22 may define cover opening 23. Cover 14 may be durable sheet metal and dimensioned so as to generally conform to the exterior of the spherical shape comprising frame 12 as seen in FIG. 1. Cover 14 may removably engage upper rim member 22 by snaps, clips 26 or other suitable means. Cover 14 may, optionally, include a cover 16 to removably engage therefrom. Lid 16 may include a flat spot 16A, which allows the lid to act as a chock under the spherical waste ball so as to prevent it from rolling, by wedging it against the side of mesh lidded frame 12 to prevent rolling while, for example, loading refuse into the open top 17 (see FIG. 3). The optional open top 17 is defined by the upper perimeter of the cover 14 where it engages the outer perimeter of the lid 16.

Lid 16, typically cup shaped (consistent with the radius of curvature of the cover and frame), may be used separate and apart from the remainder of the waste ball 10 by inverting it and placing it on optional stands 40/42 (see pan 44 in FIG. 7) and using it to burn refuse therein.

In operation, the cover 14/14 a may be removed (first embodiment) or pivoted (second embodiment) with respect to frame 12 to allow the interior of frame 12 to be filled with refuse or the like. Yard ball 10/10 a may then be rolled to pick up additional refuse. When at or near full capacity, it may be rolled (with the cover in a covered position) to a burn location and the contents lit (typically with the cover on). When only ashes remain, the ball is rolled back and forth until the ashes fall through the mesh or frame bottom and the process may be started over.

If one does not want to burn the contents, they may, when they reach the desired dump area, remove or pivot the cover. Then rolling the contents back and forth through the opening created by the removable cover will allow the contents to fall on the ground.

The cover may be non-removably fixed to the frame, but then would include the removable lid 16. The cover may be up to about a hemisphere in shape (see FIGS. 4-10).

FIGS. 4-13 illustrate a second embodiment of Applicant's yard waste ball 10 a. The second embodiment includes the frame 12, here hemispherically shaped, and having longitudinal metal bands or members 20 and latitudinal metal bands or members 21. Metal bands or members may be any suitable shape, rectangular or band-like or may be generally cylindrical. Here frame 12 is similar to the frame of the earlier embodiment, but is typically hemispherically shaped and may or may not include the wire mesh member (illustrations FIGS. 4-10 show yard waste ball 10 a without mesh cover 18). Here, cover 14 a is also hemispherical and includes a circular cover rim member 34, typically band shaped. Hemispherical cover 14 a and frame 12 typically articulate so they may pivotally engage one another at pivot members 28/30. Pivot members 28/30 are seen to be disposed about 180° apart and include pivotal metal channels or bushings 28 a/30 a. It can be seen that cover 14 a may move between a fully covered position and one that is at least partially uncovered, as seen in FIG. 5. The at least partially uncovered position as seen in FIG. 5 will allow access to the interior space for placement of yard waste debris or other burnable material thereinto.

Both embodiments include a cover that can be removed in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3A or pivoted in the second embodiment, but in both cases covers 14/14 a, whether having clips 26 or pivot members 28/30, have an outer surface that, when in the covered position (FIGS. 1 and 10), generally conform to the outer spherical surface of frame 12. Moreover, both covers can be moved to allow access to the interior of the device to place burnable or other material thereinto.

In yard ball 10 a, a suitable member, such as a ball lock pin 32, is provided as seen in FIGS. 4 and 9. Ball lock pin 32 is intended to engage holes 35 in cover rim member 34, when cover rim member 34 is aligned with upper rim member 22 a seen in FIG. 6, for example. Holes 22 a/34 a may be aligned opposed to one another for receipt of pin 32 thereinto. Pin 32 may be a ball lock pin wherein depression of a button 32 a will release spring loaded balls 32 b and allow the pin to slide in or out (see FIG. 9) of engagement between cover 14 a and frame 12. Ball lock pins, unless button 32 a is depressed, will not allow movement as holes 22 a/34 a are smaller than the pin with the balls 32 extending from the removed end thereof as seen in FIG. 9.

FIG. 5A illustrates the use of ball lock pin 32 engaging holes 22 a in upper rim member 22 and maintaining cover 14 a in an open position as seen in FIG. 5. It is noted with respect to FIG. 5A, that the barrel 32 c of the pin, which extends beyond head 32 d, may project between adjacent latitudinal members 38 of cover 14 a or may engage holes 36 a (see FIG. 5) in a longitudinal member.

Cover 14 a is seen to be comprised of longitudinal member 36, which may be band shaped or cylindrical rod shaped members (or any suitable shape), and latitudinal members 38 may be constructed similar to frame 12. Both members 36/38 are curved and define a generally hemispherical shape and are substantially open. They are typically affixed to one another rigidly, but welding or any other suitable means, where they cross one another.

In the earlier embodiment, cover 14 is seen to be substantially solid and may have a lid 16 thereon. In a second embodiment, cover 14 a is seen to be open and pivotally engaged to frame 12 and typically includes a locking member, such as ball lock pin 32, to position the cover in a multiplicity of positions between covered and uncovered or in stow position. For example, in the position illustrated in FIG. 5, which is at least partially uncovered, access is provided to the interior of the frame so that an individual may put debris thereinto. The position illustrated in FIG. 4 may be a storage or covered position and illustrates rim 22/34 removably, lockingly engaged to one another as set forth above.

The frame position illustrated in FIG. 5 (at least partially uncovered) allows placement of burned materials or other debris into the interior of device 10 a and then locking in the position illustrated in FIG. 10 (fully covered). This allows the ball to be easily rolled.

FIG. 10 illustrates that, with the use of optional stands 40/42 engaging channels 28 a/30 a of pivot members 28/30, yard ball 10 a may be held above a support surface, such as a concrete patio, the ground or the like, with a pan 44 positioned thereunder. Use of stands 40/42 and pan 44, especially on a concrete patio, will allow one to use waste ball 10/10 a much as a chiminera to provide heat. As frame 12 is substantially open, air will be supplied to the contents burning therein and cinders or the like can fall into pan 44 dimensioned to receive below the ball as seen in FIG. 10. A stand or stands may be used in conjunction with the pan 44 as illustrated in FIG. 7 or 10, or the frame 22 may simply rest directly on the upper perimeter 44 a of the pan, which may be curved to receive a lower portion of the frame as seen in FIG. 10A.

FIG. 10A illustrates the support engagement of upper perimeter 44 a of pan 44 in an embodiment of the pan. With the curved sides and generally square shape of pan 44 as seen in FIG. 11, side walls 44 a may add support surfaces when they engage frame 12 as seen in FIG. 10A. Stands 40/42 may or may not be used in the embodiment, wherein the upper perimeter of the pan engages the frame.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of pan 44, which may be generally square, but with curved side walls 44 a. End walls 44 b may be straight or curved and the upper perimeter may be configured to engage frame 12 or stands 40/42 may be used.

Turning to FIG. 12, it is seen that a spit 48 may be used for engaging the stands to the frame as seen in FIG. 13. Spit 48 may have a handle 48 a and may be configured to slide through channel 40 b of stands 40/42 as seen in FIG. 13. Spit 48 may receive food F thereon as seen in FIG. 12.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. On the contrary, various modifications of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications, alternatives, and equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A yard waste incinerator device, comprising: an at least partly spherical outer member defining an interior space, the outer member at least partially comprising an open frame, the open frame comprising a multiplicity of rigid, curved generally spaced apart members, the members fixedly engaging one another where they meet, the outer member having walls defining a lid opening; an at least partially spherical cover disposed relative to the cover opening of the outer, generally spherical member so as to move between a covered and uncovered position, the uncovered position allowing access to the interior space, the cover adapted to, in the covered position, generally conform to the outer member.
 2. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 1, wherein the outer member is generally hemispherical and the cover is generally hemispherical.
 3. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 2, wherein the cover is pivotally engaged to the outer member.
 4. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 1, wherein the outer member is a hemisphere and the cover has a hemispherical outer surface; and wherein the cover is pivotally engaged to the outer member.
 5. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 4, wherein the cover has a radius of curvature slightly less than the radius of curvature of the outer member and in the covered position, the yard waste incinerator device defines a substantially spherical incinerator device.
 6. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 5, further including means to selectively fix the position of cover with respect to the outer member.
 7. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 1, further including means to selectively fix the position of cover with respect to the outer member.
 8. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 6, wherein the means to selectively fix the position of the cover with respect to the outer member include a pin for engaging the frame and the cover.
 9. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 7, wherein the means to selectively fix the position of the cover with respect to the outer member include a pin for engaging the frame and the cover.
 10. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 1, wherein the cover is partially spherical and has a radius of curvature substantially the same as the outer member.
 11. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 10, wherein the cover is substantially solid.
 12. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 10, wherein the cover includes a removable cover.
 13. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of curved members of the frame include longitudinal members and latitudinal members.
 14. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 1, further including a pan configured for receipt beneath the spherical outer member.
 15. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 1, further including stands, adapted to engage the spherical outer member to maintain the spherical outer member above a support surface.
 16. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 1, further including a spit, the spit for engagement with the spherical outer member.
 17. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 1, further including a pan configured for receipt beneath the spherical outer member; further including stands, adapted to engage the spherical outer member to maintain the spherical outer member above a support surface; and further including a spit, the spit for engagement with the spherical outer member.
 18. The yard waste incinerator device of claim 3, further including a pan configured for receipt beneath the spherical outer member; and further including stands, adapted to engage the spherical outer member to maintain the spherical outer member above a support surface.
 19. A method of incinerating yard waste, the method comprising: providing a yard waste incinerator device comprising: an at least partly spherical outer member defining an interior space, the outer member at least partially comprising an open frame, the open frame comprising a multiplicity of rigid, curved spaced apart members, the members engaging one another, the generally spherical outer member also including a multiplicity of wire members for engaging the frame, the outer member having walls defining a cover opening; an at least partially spherical cover disposed relative to the cover opening of the outer, generally spherical member so as to move between a covered and uncovered position, the uncovered position allowing access to the interior space, the cover adapted to, in the covered position, generally conform to the outer member. accumulating yard waste; placing yard waste into the incinerator device; rolling the incinerator device to a desired location; and burning the contents of the incinerator device. 